Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $738 in Basra versus $882 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,359 in Basra versus $1,370 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,980 in Basra versus $1,858 in Zakho.

Living in Basra costs roughly 16% less than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 45% lower, Zakho 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.78 IQD 4,953

$7.66 IQD 10.0K

-50.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.85 IQD 32.5K

$23.28 IQD 30.5K

6.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 IQD 8,926

$8.78 IQD 11.5K

-22.32%

Cappuccino

$2.02 IQD 2,650

$3.20 IQD 4,191

-36.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 572

$0.52 IQD 687

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 IQD 418

$0.22 IQD 288

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.86 IQD 5,056

$1.94 IQD 2,537

98.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 IQD 3,430

$2.05 IQD 2,680

27.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 IQD 1,609

$1.38 IQD 1,806

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 IQD 885

$0.86 IQD 1,122

-20.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 IQD 1,868

$1.82 IQD 2,381

-21.43%

Eggs

$1.83 IQD 2,393

$1.90 IQD 2,494

-3.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.98 IQD 10.5K

$7.56 IQD 9,906

5.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 IQD 9,500

$4.66 IQD 6,108

55.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.91 IQD 16.9K

$14.27 IQD 18.7K

-9.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,326

$1.18 IQD 1,551

-14.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 IQD 1,772

$1.18 IQD 1,547

14.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 IQD 1,317

$1.19 IQD 1,564

-15.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 IQD 814

$0.77 IQD 1,007

-19.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 IQD 877

$0.67 IQD 874

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 IQD 789

$0.75 IQD 986

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 IQD 1,098

$0.72 IQD 938

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.53 IQD 693

-26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.89 IQD 2,479

$2.61 IQD 3,420

-27.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.21 IQD 17.3K

$12.69 IQD 16.6K

4.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.97 IQD 3,894

$1.38 IQD 1,802

115.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 IQD 4,943

$1.93 IQD 2,523

95.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 IQD 512

$0.40 IQD 519

-2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.27 IQD 30.5K

$31.07 IQD 40.7K

-25.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 IQD 3,037

$2.37 IQD 3,101

-2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 IQD 2,942

$2.32 IQD 3,037

-3.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.82 IQD 8,926

$6.84 IQD 8,953

-0.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 IQD 776

$0.69 IQD 899

-14.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$13.4K IQD 17.6M

$18.9K IQD 24.8M

-29.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.9K IQD 30.0M

$20.2K IQD 26.5M

13.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.0 IQD 75.9K

$100 IQD 131.2K

-42.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.67 IQD 33.6K

$17.97 IQD 23.5K

42.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.62 IQD 49.3K

$29.90 IQD 39.2K

25.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.24 IQD 48.8K

$37.42 IQD 49.0K

-0.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.23 IQD 19.9K

$16.71 IQD 21.9K

-8.86%

Cinema Ticket

$7.71 IQD 10.1K

$11.67 IQD 15.3K

-33.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$98.3 IQD 128.7K

$263 IQD 344.6K

-62.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,819 IQD 5.0M

$3,321 IQD 4.3M

14.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.75 IQD 56.0K

$32.47 IQD 42.5K

31.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.73 IQD 27.1K

$48.98 IQD 64.1K

-57.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 IQD 92.6K

$81.5 IQD 106.7K

-13.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.48 IQD 53.0K

$76.4 IQD 100.0K

-47.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 IQD 582.2K

$246 IQD 321.6K

81.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 IQD 173.5K

$176 IQD 230.3K

-24.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 IQD 1.2M

$568 IQD 744.1K

58.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$661 IQD 865.1K

$347 IQD 454.3K

90.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,590 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$802 IQD 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$649 IQD 850.1K

19.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: June 14, 2026

Last update for Zakho: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Basra and $246 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Basra vs $23.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $197 per month, with Zakho cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Basra vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Zakho differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($738 vs $882 including rent). Basra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Basra pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Basra versus $246 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Zakho pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Basra – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $23.00 in Zakho. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Basra gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Basra and Zakho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Basra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Zakho. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.